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Novel Catalog
Chapter_133
The atmosphere in the garden had shifted dramatically. Lucas’s vague words about seeing a “goddess” hung in the air, leaving the guests confused and intrigued. As they waited for Yvette to make her entrance, everyone seemed to have fallen into a strange silence, as if anticipating something extraordinary.
When Yvette finally appeared, stepping into the garden bathed in the cool moonlight, it was as if the very air had changed. Her presence was striking, both ethereal and commanding. Her gown—a white fringed dress adorned with hand-sewn diamonds—seemed to shimmer with an almost supernatural brilliance. Each step she took was graceful, the fabric catching the light in a cascade of colors, as though it were alive with stars. The breeze swirled around her, making the flowers and the trees in the garden appear to bow in reverence to her.
Zachary’s voice, calling out to her, brought the guests back to reality. “Yvette?” His tone was warm, affectionate, and instantly drew everyone’s attention.
For a brief moment, the crowd stood in stunned silence. The woman before them, once thought of as the simple, rustic “country bumpkin,” now appeared as a vision of elegance and grace. Their expressions shifted from disbelief to awe, as the reality of the situation dawned on them. This was the same Yvette they had ridiculed—her beauty, her presence, completely undeniable.
“Yvette?!” The realization hit like a thunderclap, and whispers spread quickly through the group. There was a ripple of disbelief, some muttered questions, and others who could hardly believe their eyes. The crowd had already been enraptured by Winona earlier, but now, all eyes were on Yvette, and the contrast was undeniable.
Winona, standing amidst the crowd, felt the color drain from her face. Her stomach churned as the whispers grew louder, and her heart pounded in her chest. She had been so sure of her own beauty, her own superiority. But now, standing next to Yvette, she felt something she hadn’t anticipated—a gnawing feeling of inferiority. Her earlier confidence began to crumble, and the jealousy burning inside her twisted her features into an expression of pure animosity.
Nellie, always the opportunist, immediately recognized the shift in the mood and knew she had to act fast. As she noticed the stares directed at Winona, she stepped in close, whispering coldly in her ear. “Winona, you better pull yourself together. Don’t make a fool of yourself. Tonight is your moment. You may have lost in the looks department, but if you don’t pull yourself together now, you’ll lose everything.”
Winona, still reeling from the shock of seeing Yvette in the spotlight, took a long pause before replying, her voice tight and controlled. “I understand, Mom. Don’t worry.”
The conversation around them continued, but Winona couldn’t shake the feeling of being overshadowed. It wasn’t just her looks—it was the way everyone looked at Yvette. The aura she exuded was impossible to ignore, and Winona’s earlier moment of triumph, her moment in the spotlight, felt like a distant memory.
Meanwhile, Zachary, oblivious to the storm brewing in Winona’s mind, moved toward Yvette with an affectionate smile. His voice was soft, almost fatherly. “Come on, Yvette. Let’s go sit over there with Dad. The banquet will start soon. Have you eaten anything yet? Are you hungry? Don’t skip meals to maintain your figure. Your health is the most important thing for a young girl.”
Zachary’s affectionate tone, his obvious devotion to Yvette, was evident to everyone watching. Even the most discerning businessmen in the room couldn’t help but notice the contrast in the way Zachary treated his two daughters. To them, it was clear—this was no ordinary family dynamic. Zachary’s open admiration for Yvette, his newly discovered daughter, was enough to leave a lasting impression.
Winona, watching this exchange from behind, felt as though her world was collapsing. What did Yvette have that she didn’t? How had she managed to so completely capture her father’s attention, and more importantly, the attention of everyone else in the room? This night was supposed to be hers, a celebration of her future, but all she felt now was the bitter sting of inadequacy.
As the murmurs grew louder, a voice broke through the growing chatter. A girl who had been admiring Winona earlier turned to the crowd, her eyes wide with disbelief. “Did you notice something?” she asked, her breath slightly shaky, her voice filled with awe.
The crowd, still in a daze from the shock of Yvette’s entrance, turned to her, curious. Even Zachary and Richard paused to listen.
The girl nodded as if confirming her own thoughts. Then, as if still processing what she was about to say, she hesitated, looking conflicted. After a long pause, she finally spoke again. “I’ve seen that white gown Ms. Zeller is wearing before.”
The room fell silent once more. The girl’s words hung in the air, leaving the crowd on edge. What did she mean? Had they seen the gown before? Was there more to Yvette than they realized?
Zachary raised an eyebrow, his curiosity piqued. The entire group turned their attention to the girl, and the air was thick with anticipation. Whatever she was about to say would either confirm or shatter the mysterious allure that had surrounded Yvette’s sudden transformation.
